Automatic railroad-gate.



A. J. M. ST. MARIE.

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD GATE. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 4. 1915.

1,205,405. Patented Nov. 21.1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

} 5 1 fi L I 6 5 1 W amoem toz 2M m Q 6mm,

A A. J. M. ST. MARIE.

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD GATE.

APPLICATION FILED e204, 1915 1,205,405 Patented Nov. 21, 19 6.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2- A. J, M. ST. MAME.

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD GATE.

APPLICATION FILED Dec. 4. 1915.

1,205,405. Patented Nov. 21, '1916.

3 SHEETSSHEET 3.

Ari/1 ur J/Vl. SfiMarba,

ami 3440,0020

ARTHUR J. M. ST. MARIE, 0F OLDTOWN, MAINE.

AUTOMATIC RAILROAD-GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 21, 1916.

Application filed December 4, 1915. Serial No. 65,156.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. M. ST.

MARIE, a citizen of the United States, re-

siding at Oldtown, in the county of Penobsoot and State of Maine, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automatic Railroad-Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in automatic railroad gates and has particular application to a train controlled gate.

In carrying out the present invention, it is my purpose to provide a train controlled railway gate which will be found especially useful at highway crossings, which will be operated automatically to lowered position when a train approaches the crossing and which will be automatically restored to vertical or inactive position when the train has passed the crossing, thereby eliminating the necessity of employing a gate keeper or the like.

It is also my purpose to provide an automatic gate for highway crossings at railroad tracks which will operate efficiently and effectively under all conditionsand wherein the component parts will be so arranged and correlated as to reduce the possibility of derangement to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a railway crossing gate which will embody a train controlled audible signal adapted to be operated, when a train approaches the crossing, previous to the op eration of the gate so as to warn those about to cross the tracks of the proximity of the car or train.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists'in the construction, combination and arrangementof parts hereinafter set forth in and falling within the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a railway track showin my gate installed. Fig.2 is a view in side elevation of the gate. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the same. Fig. 4c is a similar view taken at right angles to Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 66 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view showing a detail of the invention.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, 1 designates a trackway intersecting a highway 2. In the present instance, a conductor rail 3 is arranged alongside the trackway 1, while disposed between the lines of rails of the trackway is a conductor rail 4 embodying a section 5 arranged adjacent to one line of rails and parallel therewith and a section 6 arranged adjacent to the other line of rails and parallel therewith. Disposed at one side of the highway 2 adjacent to the railway track is a casing? and journaled in the side walls of the casing 7 adjacent to the upper end thereof is a shaft 8 having the opposite ends thereof projecting beyond the casing and secured to the ends of the shaft 8 and straddling the casing is one extremity of a gate 9 of any appropriate construction. This gate 9 is normally disposed in a vertical position and is capable of movement to horizontal position to form a barrier across the highway so as to prevent vehicles and pedestrians from crossing the track. Fixed upon the shaft 8 within the casing 7 is a gear wheel 10 having the periphery thereof formed with a depression 11 in which is mounted a spring dog 12. The gear wheel 10 meshes with a pinion 13 fixed upon a shaft 14: journaled in the casing 7 below the shaft 8 and also fastened upon the shaft let is a gear wheel 15 meshing with a pinion 16 fixed upon a shaft 17 journaled in the easing 7 below the shaft 14. Also fastened upon the shaft 17 is a gear wheel 18 meshing with a pinion 19 fixed upon one end of the armature shaft of an electric motor 20 disposed within the casing 7 and secured to the bottom thereof. Secured to the shaft 8 and projecting outwardly therefrom is an arm 21 adapted to move through an arcuate path in the rotation of the shaft 8 and normally disposed invertical position. On the outer end of the arm 21 is a contact finger 22 normally in engagement with an arcuate shaped strip 23 suitably secured to the top wall of the casing 7 and insulated therefrom. Arranged in juxtaposition to the lower end of the strip 23 is an electro magnet 24, while secured to the outer side of the casing below the magnet 24 is a switch 25 of suitable construction. Interposed between the upper end of the magnet 24 and the adjacent end of the strip 25 is a contact strip 26 adapted to be engaged by the finger 22 after such finger has moved over the strip 23. Secure-d to the shaft 8 at one side of the gear 10 is a disk 27 and fastened to the dish 2? is one end of a cable or other flexible way element 28, while secured to the remaining end of such element is a counterweight 29 adapted to be elevated in the rotation of the shaft 8 to lower the gate so as to restore the gate to normal position after the train has passed the crossing. Mounted within the casing 7 is an electric horn 30 or other audible signal, while arranged alongside of the casing 7 and suitably inclosed is a battery 31. The lines of rails of the trackare connected with one side of the battery 31 by way of a conductor 32, while from the remaining side of the battery leads a conductor 33 terminally connected with the arin 21. A conductor 34 connects the segmental strip 23 to one side of the motor 20 and from the remaining side of the motor 20 leads a conductor 35 connected with one side of the switch 25, the other terminal of the switch 25 being connected by means of a conductor 36 with the sections 5 and 6 of the conducting rail 4. Connected to the same side of the battery 31 'aS the conductor 33 is a conductor 37 terminally secured to one side of the electric horn 30 and from the other side of the horn 30 leads a conductor 38 connected to the contact rail 3. The contact strip 26 is connected to one side of the magnet 24 by means of a wi'e 39 and the remaining terminal of such magnet is connected to the same side of the switch 25 as the conductor 35 by means of a wire 40. The conductor 33 also includes a signal lamp 41 mounted upon the gate 9.

Each motor car operating over the trackway is equipped with contact rollers that are adapted to engage the conductor rail 3 and the sections 5 and 6 of the conductor rail 4 respectively and these contact rollers are electrically connected with the wheels and axles of the train.

In practice, when a train approaches the crossing one of the contact' rollers thereon engages the conducting rail 3, thereby closing the circuit of the horn 30, current flowing from one side of the battery 31, through the conductor 37, the horn 30, the conductor 38, conductor rail 3, the contact roller thereon, the wheels and axles of the car,the rails of the trackway and back to the other side of the battery by way of the conductor 32, thereby sounding the horn 30 to warn the persons approaching the crossing of theproximity of the train. After the horn has been sounded, the particular contact rollers on the train engage the conducting rail 4, thereby closing the circuit to the motor 20 and the lamp 41, current flowing from one side of the battery 31, through the conductor 33, the arm 21., the finger 22 thereon, the segmental strip 23, the conductor 34, the motor, the conductor35, through the switch 25, the conductor 36, the contact rail 4, the contact roller on the car in engagement with such rail, and back to the other side of the battery 31, by of'the car, the track rails and the conductor 32.. The current flowing through the conductor 33 also energizes the lamp 41 on the gate. Upon the energization of the motor 20, motion is transmitted through the train of gears and pinions to the shaft 8, thereby revolving the shaft to lower the gate and in the downward movement of the gate the arm 21 carries the finger 22 over the strip 23 and out of engagement with such strip and into engagement with the strip 26. As soon as the finger 22 disengages the strip 26, the motor is deenergized, while when the finger engages the strip 26, the'magnet 24 is energized and the pole of the'magnet acts upon the arm 21 to hold the latter in horizontal position and the gate across the highway, current flowing from one side of the battery 31, through the conductor 33, the arm 21, the finger 22, the strip 26, the wire 39, magnet 24, wire 40, switch 25, conductor 36, conductor rail 4, and back to the other side of the battery by way of the contactroller on the train in engagement with the rail 4, the wheels and axles of the train, the track rails and the conductor 32. When the gate is in lowered position, the depression 11 is arranged in juxtaposition to the periphery of the pinion 13 and the dog 12 engages the pinion 13, thereby checking the speed of the armature of the motor.

In the present instance, a vertical rod 42 is pivoted between its ends within the easing 7 and has the upper end thereof bent toward the path of movement of the arm 21 to normal position and the lower end bent toward the center of the casing and equipped with a brake shoe adapted to engage the armature of the motor. After the car or train has passed the crossing the eir cuit of the magnet 24 is broken, thereby releasing the arm 21 and permitting the weight 29 to react to restore the arm and the gate to normal position. As the arm 21 moves to normal position, such arm abuts the upper end of the rod 42 and swings such rod with the effect to engage the'brahe shoe with the armature of the motor.

While I have herein shown and described one preferred form of my invention by way of illustration, 1 wish it to .be understood that I do not limit or confine myself to the precise details of construction herein described and delineated, as modification and variation may be. made within the scope of the claim and without departing from the spirit of the invention.

1 claim:

An automatic railroad gate comprising a shaft, a gate mounted upon said shaft and normally disposed in vertical position and capable of movement to horizontal position, a motor, driving connections between said way of the wheels and axles.

motor and shaft whereby the shaft may be 130 engaged by said finger to hold the gate in lowered position after the de'elnergization of the motor when said finger leaves the first mentioned contact strip.

In testimonv whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ARTHUR J. M. ST. MARIE.

Witnesses:

XVILLIAM H. WATERHOUSE, MARJORIE M. MURPHY. 

